KR100341650B1 - Spinners for Making Bicomponent Fibers - Google Patents

Abstract

A dual component fiber making apparatus is provided and includes a spinner having an outer wall and a lower wall. The spinner has a spinner that is divided into a series of compartments that are generally arranged vertically by a baffle disposed around the interior of the outer wall and includes an orifice disposed on the outer wall for centrifuging the bicomponent fibers. A first separator is installed in the spinner to direct the first molten thermoplastic material to a selected one of the compartments, and a second separator is installed to direct the second molten thermoplastic material to the remaining ones of the compartments so that the adjacent compartments are different. It comprises a thermoplastic material. Passages are disposed in each of the compartments so that each molten thermoplastic plastic material flows to an orifice in the outer wall of the spinner.

Description

Spinners for Making Bicomponent Fibers

In US Pat. No. 2,998,620 Stalego discloses a meandering (spiral) glass fiber of a two component glass component. Stalego discloses a double glass composition having a different coefficient of thermal expansion through an orifice of a spinner to produce a major twisty fiber. The glass is extruded into a monolithically aligned double glass stream, and the fibers naturally curl up upon cooling due to the difference in their coefficient of thermal expansion. Stalego discloses a spinner in one embodiment having vertically arranged compartments separated by vertical baffles around the outer periphery of the spinner, the alternating compartments containing different glass. The patentee indicates that an orifice wider than the baffle should be drilled at the intersection of the baffle's outer wall. When the orifice is wider than the baffle, the orifice communicates with both vertical compartments on either side of the baffle, and both A and B glasses exit the spinner through the orifice, forming a double glass stream.

However, there is a need in these techniques to improve the double stream transport of molten glass to form double glass or other thermoplastic fibers.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing bicomponent fibers (5) from thermoplastics, in particular a spinner for centrifuging bicomponent fibers from two streams of molten thermoplastic, such as glass or other optical fibers or polymer fibers. Relates to a device.

Fibers of glass or other thermoplastics can be used for a variety of applications, including sound insulation or insulation. General prior art methods for producing glass fiber insulation products include the production of glass fibers by rotational processing methods. One molten glass component is pushed out through an orifice in the outer wall of a commonly known centrifuge, such as a spinner, initially producing short, straight glass fibers.

The temperature of the molten glass used in the rotary fiberization treatment may exceed 2000 ° F. (1093 ° C.). Because of the high temperatures introduced and the high rotational speed of the spinners, the materials that make up such devices require materials to overcome the above conditions. Corrosion resistance is also required for the orifice in the spinner to remain in the designed size and shape.

Conventional transformation of glass fibers and routinely transformation of straight fibers is the use of fibers in a serpentine form (spiral form). The fibers are made by combining two separate glass streams, commonly referred to as A glass and B glass, and centrifuging the double glass stream in a serpentine form (spiral form).

1 is a schematic front view of an apparatus for making bicomponent fibers in accordance with the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the front of a fiberizer / spinner used in the practice of the present invention.

3 is a front view and a partial view of a portion of the spinner obtained along line 3-3 of FIG.

4 is a front partial view of the spinner taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

5 is a perspective view from the inside of the spinner showing the compartments and separators for the A and B components.

Such a need is met by the present invention in which a series of orifices are disposed on the outer wall of the spinner and different molten thermoplastic glass is fed by passages from adjacent compartments to form a bicomponent fiber. In addition, the present invention feeds different molten thermoplastics from the top and bottom of the spinner to improve temperature control (ie, more uniform temperature distribution). The location and size of the orifices and passages in the spinner also provides for the accumulation of molten thermoplastic material in the adjacent compartment and prevents air from entering the compartment. In this patent specification, in the use of the terms "glass fiber" and "glass composition", "glass" is intended to include conventional glass as well as any glass form of minerals such as rocks, slag and basalt. Thermoplastics and thermoplastic fibers include, in addition to glass and other optical fibers, fibers of polymeric materials, such as polyester fibers and polypropylene fibers.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dual component fiber manufacturing apparatus comprising a spinner having an outer wall and a lower wall. The spinner includes an orifice located on its outer wall for centrifuging the bicomponent fibers, the spinner being separated into a series of vertically arranged compartments by baffles disposed surrounding the inner circumference of the outer wall. .

The first and second molten thermoplastics are fed to the spinner by any suitable equipment. For example, if the material is glass, the equipment will have a melting furnace and forehearth to feed two molten glass. A first separator is provided to the spinner to feed the first molten thermoplastic material to the outer wall of the spinner and direct it to an optional compartment, and a second separator is supplied to the outer wall of the spinner to the remaining compartment. Provided to direct the adjacent compartments to include different thermoplastics. A passage is disposed in each compartment through which each molten thermoplastic flows to an orifice in the outer wall of the spinner.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the passages in close proximity of the compartments are in communication with each other and also in communication with the orifices to join the first and second molten thermoplastics together into a bicomponent fiber. Preferably, the orifices are aligned with the baffles.

In order to provide dual component fibers with substantially the same proportions of the first and second thermoplastics, the passages in the adjacent compartments generally have the same diameter and length. Furthermore, the passage is formed to a size that allows the molten thermoplastic to accumulate in the compartment covering the passage.

The first separator in the spinner generally comprises a horizontal circular plate, and is preferably arranged at the upper end of the baffle, which is generally arranged vertically, and is close to the inner side of the outer wall of the spinner. The plate comprises a series of orifices arranged at regular intervals around its circumference to provide a passage to an optional one of the compartments for the first molten thermoplastic material.

Preferably, the spinner also comprises a flange, which generally extends inward and upward from the top of the outer wall of the spinner. Under the influence of the centrifugal force, the first molten thermoplastic material will flow outward along the surface of the plate to the inner surface of the spinner outer wall, and the first molten thermoplastic glass accumulates under the flange in contact with it at the inner surface of the spinner outer wall. The first molten thermoplastic will flow through an orifice in the plate, into one of the compartments. Preferably, the orifice is sized and positioned to be completely covered by stacked molten thermoplastic. This prevents air from entering the compartment.

The second separator in the spinner generally comprises a horizontal circular plate, which is preferably arranged at the lower end of the baffles, which are generally arranged vertically, against the inner side of the outer wall of the spinner. The plate has a series of orifices spaced at regular intervals around the circumference of the plate to provide a passage to an optional one of the compartments for the second molten thermoplastic material. Under the influence of the centrifugal force, the second molten thermoplastic material will flow outwards toward the inner surface of the spinner outer wall along the lower wall of the spinner and will accumulate under the plate in contact with the inner surface. The second molten thermoplastic will then flow through the orifice in the plate and into the remaining ones of the compartments. Preferably, the orifice is sized and arranged to be completely covered by stacked molten thermoplastic. This prevents air from entering the compartment.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the thermoplastic material is glass and the spinner is adapted to receive two separate molten glass streams for fiberization into double glass fibers.

It is therefore a feature of the present invention to provide a series of orifices disposed in the outer wall of the spinner that feed different molten thermoplastic materials by passages from adjacent compartments to form a bicomponent fiber. Another feature of the present invention is to provide different molten thermoplastic materials from the top and bottom of the spinner to improve temperature control inside the spinner. Another feature of the present invention is to provide the size and location of the passages and orifices in the spinner such that accumulation of molten thermoplastic material occurs in adjacent compartments, thereby preventing air from being injected into the compartments. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Although the present invention is described in terms of an apparatus for producing irregularly formed double glass fibers (ie, fibers that are not straight with respect to the axis of rotation), the present invention is not only in the form of double glass fibers such as twisted fibers, It is to be understood that the invention includes devices for producing bicomponent fibers of other thermoplastics such as esters or polypropylene.

The insulation product of irregularly formed glass fibers is formed by a process of rotating fiber formation and pack heat setting as shown in FIG. 1. Two separate molten glass components (component A and component B) are fed to the rotating fiberizing apparatus 14 from suitable glass sources such as 10 and converter 12. Preferably, the glasses have different coefficients of thermal expansion so that when cooled, they will exhibit irregular shapes (shape corresponding to straight lines). A bale of double glass fibers 18, such as irregularly formed glass fibers produced by the fiberizing device 14, is focused on the conveyor 16 as a wool pack 20 by a vacuum disposed below the conveyor. When the air is blown downwards toward the conveyor using the blower 22 near the fiberizer, the fiber is attenuated and cooled to form an irregular shape.

Wool pack 20 is passed through oven 24 at a heating set temperature of about 700 ° C. to about 1000 ° F. (about 371 ° C. to about 593 ° C.). The heating set temperature can be achieved by slowing the cooling process after fiber formation to maintain some of the heat from the fiber forming process, or by reheating the fiber in the heating setting oven 24. When passing through the oven, the wool pack 20 is formed by an upper conveyor 26 and a lower conveyor 28 and an edge guide (not shown). While in the oven 24, the glass fibers will flow hot hot gas to promote constant heating. When the fibers are pressed by the conveyors 26 and 28, the fibers are pressed in the manner of compression springs. When treated at a heating set temperature, the fibers loosen and the stress is reduced so that the wool pack remains in the desired shape. After 10 minutes, the wool pack leaves the oven 24 as insulation product 30.

Heating settings are an optional aspect of the present invention. Alternatively, the wool pack can be encapsulated in an outer plastic layer as disclosed by Schelhorn in US Pat. No. 5,277,955, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. Wool packs may also be subjected to other manufacturing techniques, including stitching, needling or hydro-entanglement.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the spinner 60 includes a spinner bottom wall 62 and a spinner outer wall 64. Although the bottom wall 62 is shown as closed, the bottom wall 62 can be opened to be long enough to have a surface sufficient to guide and hold the flow direction of the glass A as can be seen. The spinner is rotated on the main axis 66, as known in the art. As the spinner rotates, the initial molten glass is centrifuged through an orifice in the spinner outer wall 64 to form the initial fiber 68. The initial fiber 68 is maintained in a soft, attenuable state by heating the circular burner 70. Internal burners (not shown) may also be used to supply heat into the spinner 60. A circular blower 72, using air guided through passage 74, draws the initial fiber 68 and further attenuates it with double glass fiber 76 suitable for use in wool insulation materials. Unevenly formed glass fibers of double glass are then focused onto a conveyor to form a wool pack.

Inside the spinner 60 are fed two separate molten glass streams, a first stream 78 comprising glass A and a second stream 80 comprising glass B. The glass in stream 78 falls directly above the spinner bottom wall 62 as shown and flows outward due to the centrifugal force towards the spinner outer wall 64 to cause the head of glass A below the horizontal plate 82. To form. Glass B in molten glass stream 80 is located closer to the outer wall 64 of the spinner than stream 78, and the B glass in stream 80 is a circular horizontal plate before it reaches the spinner bottom wall. Blocked by (82). Therefore, the tip or accumulation of the glass B is formed on the horizontal plate 82 as shown.

As best seen in FIGS. 3-5, the spinner 60 is adopted with a series of vertical baffles 86, which are arranged along the outer wall 64 of the spinner so that between the horizontal parallel plates 81, 82. The space is separated into a series of vertically arranged sections 88 arranged, with the plate 82 disposed at the upper edge of the baffle 86 and the plate 81 disposed at the lower edge of the baffle 86.

The passages to the compartments 88 are provided by a series of orifices 89, 91, respectively, on the horizontal plates 81, 82. As shown, the orifices 89 in the plate 82 are spaced around the outer periphery of the plate to provide a passageway to one of the compartments 88. Likewise, the orifice 91 is spaced around the outer periphery of the plate 81 to provide a passage to the remaining sections of the compartment so that A glass and B glass are in an optional compartment of the compartment. Although the spinner is shown as having one orifice 89 or 91 per compartment, it will be appreciated that more orifices are supplied to the plates 81 and 82, respectively, per compartment. For example, a number of orifices can be made arranged alongside the compartments 88 radially outward along the plates 81, 82.

In operation, the molten glass B falls on the horizontal plate 82 from the stream 80 and extends upwards and inwards from the spinner outer wall 64 (FIG. 5) and the spinner outer wall 64. Is centrifuged outward relative to. The molten glass then passes through orifice 89 and fills one of the compartments 88. The molten glass A falls directly from the stream 78 onto the spinner bottom wall 62 and is centrifuged outwardly below the horizontal plate 82 toward the spinner outer wall 64. Accumulation of the molten glass pushes the glass through the orifice 91 into the remaining compartments 88. Because of the opposite flow of the molten glass (B glass flowing down and A glass flowing upward), the temperature control and distribution around the inside of the spinner and the outside of the spinner are improved. That is, the temperature distribution along the spinner wall 64 plane will be more uniform due to the opposite flow of glass.

In the illustrated embodiment, the spinner outer wall 64 has an orifice 90 positioned thereon. Orifice 90 is adjacent to the radially outer edge of vertical baffle 86 and is generally positioned side by side. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a series of passages 92 and 93 are located within each compartment 88 through which molten thermoplastic material flows. Preferably, such passages are located adjacent to one side of the baffle 86 and communicate with each other at an angle and communicate with the orifice 90 on the outer surface or outer wall 64.

Alternatively, orifice 90 may be formed with elongated slots aligned with baffle 86. By making the slots wider than the width of the baffle, the A and B glasses are centrifuged through the slots as taught in pending 08 / 147,762 filed November 5, 1993 under the "double-glass fiber manufacturing apparatus". The disclosure of this application is hereby incorporated by reference.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, passages 92 and 93 are generally arranged vertically and are preferably sized to provide the same flow length for the A and B glass components in adjacent compartment 88. Becomes This will be about the same amount of A and B glass for each fiber as the A and B components exit the orifice 90 side by side. If the amounts of A and B glasses need not be the same, the passages 92 and 93 will be sized so that unequal amounts of flow can be provided that do not equal the proportion of the bicomponent fibers. This result is desirable in some cases. In addition, the passage of each compartment can be varied in size such that the proportion of A and B glass of the formed bi-component fibers changes.

Typically, the passages 92 and 93 have a diameter in the range of about 0.010 to about 0.040 inch (about 0.25 to about 1.0 mm), preferably in the range of about 0.015 to about 0.025 inch (about 0.38 to about 0.63 mm). The number of passages formed depends on the height of the spinner outer wall The flow rate and number of passages, as well as the flow rate through which molten glass flows through the orifices 89 and 91 into the compartments 88, as well as the passages within each compartment, It is selected to accumulate the "head" of the molten material covering the orifices 89 and 91. By keeping the volume of accumulation or the "head" of the molten thermoplastic material somewhat larger than the above, the molten material is directed to orifices 89 and 91. There is a sufficient pressure differential to pass through and into the compartments.The orifice 90 and the passages 92 and 93 are spinner walls by some known drilling techniques such as laser drilling, electro discharge milling, or electron beam drilling. It is drilling into.

As shown in FIG. 5, the spinner bottom wall 62, the spinner outer wall 64, and the flange 65 are separately manufactured and assembled. This makes it possible to drill the orifices 90 and the passages 92 and 93 in the spinner outer wall prior to assembly, making the overall spinner manufacture less complex. In addition, the spinner bottom, outer walls, and flanges may be made of other materials most suitable for this particular use. Therefore, the spinner bottom wall 62 and the flange 65 can be made of a metal or alloy that provides high structural strength and creep resistance, such as an oxide dispersion strengthening alloy (ODS) to provide a strong and stable rotating device. have. The spinner outer wall 64 is resistant to corrosion, such as cobalt / chromium / nickel super alloys, to withstand the corrosive effects from the flow of molten thermoplastic through the passageway in the spinner wall and to maintain an appropriate orifice size. It may be made of a high alloy.

Any representative embodiments and detailed description are shown to illustrate the invention, which various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art and are defined by the appended claims in the method and apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention. .

Claims (25)

a. As a spinner 60 having an outer wall 64 and a lower wall 62 having an inner surface and an outer surface, an orifice 90 disposed on the outer wall 64 for centrifuging the bicomponent fibers 76. And the spinner 60 further separated into a series of compartments 88 by a baffle 86 disposed inside the outer wall 64; b. Equipment (10, 12) for supplying first and second molten thermoplastics to the spinner (60), c. A first separator (82) for directing the first molten thermoplastic material to the outer wall (64) and to a selected one of the compartments (88), wherein the first separator (82) is attached to the outer wall (64). An approaching first plate 82 and having a series of first orifices 89 at regular intervals to provide a passage of the first molten thermoplastic material to flow to a selected one of the compartments 88. A first separator and a second separator 81 that directs the second molten thermoplastic material to the outer wall 64 and to the remaining ones of the compartments 88, the second separator 81 being the outer A second plate 81 against the wall 64 and having a series of second orifices 91 spaced at regular intervals to provide a passage for the second molten material to flow into the remaining ones of the compartments. And a second separator, d. Extending through the outer wall 64 and in communication with the orifice 90 and the compartment 88 in the outer wall 64, a stream of the first and second material from the compartment 88. And a passage (92,93) for flowing into said orifice (90) in said outer wall (64) of said spinner (60). 2. The pair of adjacent passages 92, 93 of claim 1, wherein adjacent pairs of passages 92,93 extend from adjacent ones of the compartments 88 through the outer wall 64, such that each pair of adjacent passages 92,93 is mutually oriented. And inclined together to communicate with one of the orifices (90) in the outer wall (64). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the orifice (90) in the outer wall (64) is aligned with the baffle (86). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the passage (92, 93) is sized to provide accumulation of the molten thermoplastic material in the compartment (88). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein all said passageways (92,93) in communication with said compartments (88) have substantially the same diameter and length. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a flange (65) extending upwardly from the outer wall (64) and towards the axis of rotation of the spinner (60). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first plate (82) is generally horizontal and disposed at the upper edge of said baffle (86). 8. A flange according to claim 7, further comprising a flange (65) extending upwardly from the outer wall (64) and towards the axis of rotation of the spinner (60), wherein the first orifice (89) is the outer side wall, the Apparatus for producing a bicomponent fiber, characterized in that it is sized to provide an accumulation of the first molten thermoplastic material for the first plate (82) and the flange (65). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second plate (81) is generally horizontal and arranged in contact with the lower edge of the baffle (86). 10. The second orifice (91) of claim 9, wherein the second orifice (91) is sized to provide accumulation of the second molten thermoplastic material with respect to the outer wall (64), the lower wall (62), and the second plate (81). The dual component fiber manufacturing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. a. As a spinner 60 having an outer wall 64 and a lower wall 62 having an inner surface and an outer surface, an orifice 90 disposed on the outer wall 64 for centrifuging the bicomponent fibers 76. And the spinner 60 further separated into a series of compartments 88 by a baffle 86 disposed inside the outer wall 64; b. Equipment 10 and 12 for supplying first and second molten glass to the spinner 60, c. A first separator 82 for directing the molten thermoplastic material to the outer wall 64 and a selected one of the compartments 88, and a second molten glass to the outer wall 64 and the compartments ( A second separator 81 directed to the remaining compartments of 88; d. A plurality of pairs of passages extending through the outer wall 64, each of the pairs of passages being first and second inclined relative to one another to communicate with each other and with a selected one of the orifices 90; Passages 92 and 93, wherein the first passage communicates with the first compartment to allow the first molten glass to flow in the selected orifice, and the second passage communicates with the second compartment to the selected orifice. And a plurality of pairs of passages to allow the second molten glass to flow. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and second passages (92, 93) of each pair of passages extend from adjacent ones of the compartments (88). 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the orifice (90) is arranged side by side with the baffle (86). 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the passageway (92,93) is sized to provide accumulation of the molten glass in the compartment (88). 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein all said passageways (92,93) have substantially the same diameter and the same length. 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, comprising a flange (65) extending upwardly from the outer wall (64) and towards the axis of rotation of the spinner (60). 12. The first separator (82) according to claim 11, wherein the first separator (82) comprises a generally horizontal plate (82) disposed at the upper edge of the baffle (86) and against the outer wall (64) of the spinner (60). Wherein the plate 82 comprises a series of orifices 89 at regular intervals to provide a passageway for the first molten glass to flow into the selected compartment of the compartment 88. Manufacturing device. 18. The orifice (20) according to claim 17, comprising a flange (65) extending upwardly from the outer wall (64) and toward the axis of rotation of the spinner (60), wherein the orifice is included in the plate (82). 89 is sized to provide an accumulation of the first molten glass with respect to the outer wall (64), the horizontal plate (82) and the flange (65). 12. A generally horizontal plate (81) according to claim 11, wherein the second separator (81) is arranged in contact with the lower edge of the baffle (86) and against the outer wall (64) of the spinner (60). Wherein the plate 81 comprises a series of orifices 91 at regular intervals to provide a passageway for the second molten glass to flow into the remaining compartments of the compartment 88. Textile manufacturing device. 20. The orifice (91) included in the plate (18) is characterized in that the accumulation of the second molten glass with respect to the outer wall (64), the lower wall (62), and the horizontal plate (81) is reduced. Double glass fiber manufacturing apparatus, characterized in that size is provided to provide. a. As a spinner 60 having an outer wall 64 and a lower wall 62 having an inner surface and an outer surface, an orifice 90 disposed on the outer wall 64 for centrifuging the bicomponent fibers 76. And the spinner 60 further separated into a series of compartments 88 by a baffle 86 disposed inside the outer wall 64; b. Equipment 10 and 12 for supplying first and second molten glass to the spinner 60, c. As a first separator 82 for directing the first molten glass to a selected compartment of the compartment 88, the first separator 82 is disposed along an upper portion of the baffle 86 and the spinner 60. A generally horizontal plate 82 against the outer wall 64 of the first plate 82 providing a passageway for the first molten glass to flow into a selected compartment of the compartment 88. A first separator comprising a series of first orifices (89) spaced at regular intervals; A second separator 81 directed toward the second molten glass to the remaining compartments of the compartment 88, the second separator 81 being a generally horizontal plate disposed along the bottom of the baffle 86 (81), the second plate (81) includes a series of second orifices (91) spaced at regular intervals to provide a passageway for the second molten glass to flow into the remaining compartments of the compartment (88). A second separator comprising, d. Extending through the outer wall 64 and in communication with the orifice 90 and the compartment 88 in the outer wall 64, the molten glass being the outer wall 64 of the spinner 60. And passages (92,93) for passing to the orifices (90). a. As a spinner 60 having an outer wall 64 and a lower wall 62 having an inner surface and an outer surface, an orifice 90 disposed on the outer wall 64 for centrifuging the bicomponent fibers 76. And the spinner 60 further separated into a series of compartments 88 by a baffle 86 disposed inside the outer wall 64; b. Equipment (10, 12) for supplying first and second molten thermoplastics to the spinner (60), c. A first separator (82) for directing the molten thermoplastic material to the outer wall (64) and to a selected one of the compartments (88), wherein the first separator (82) is such that the first molten thermoplastic material is in the compartments. A first separator comprising a generally horizontal first plate 82 having a series of first orifices 89 at regular intervals to provide a passage to flow to a selected compartment of 88; A second separator (81) for directing the second molten thermoplastic material to the outer wall (64) and to the remaining ones of the compartments (88), wherein the second separator (81) is characterized in that A second separator having a series of second orifices 91 at regular intervals to provide a passage for flow to the remaining ones of the compartments 88, d. Extending through the outer wall 64 and communicating with the orifice 90 and the compartment 88 in the outer wall 64, the first and second materials are separated from the compartment 88. And a passage (92,93) for flowing into the orifice (90) in the outer wall (64) of the spinner. a. As a spinner 60 having an outer wall 64 and a lower wall 62 having an inner surface and an outer surface, an orifice 90 disposed on the outer wall 64 for centrifuging the bicomponent fibers 76. And the spinner 60 further separated into a series of compartments 88 by a baffle 86 disposed inside the outer wall 64; b. Equipment (10, 12) for supplying first and second molten thermoplastics to the spinner (60), c. A first separator (82) for directing the molten thermoplastic material to the outer wall (64) and to a selected one of the compartments (88), wherein the first separator (82) is along the top of the baffle (86) A first separator disposed with and having a series of first orifices (89) spaced at regular intervals to provide a passage for the first molten material to flow into a selected one of the compartments (88); A second separator (81) for directing the second molten thermoplastic material to the outer wall (64) and to the remaining ones of the compartments (88), wherein the second separator (81) is a lower portion of the baffle (86) A second separator having a series of second orifices (91) spaced at regular intervals so as to provide a passage for distributing the second molten material to the remaining ones of the compartments; d. Extending through the outer wall 64 and communicating with the orifice 90 and the compartment 88 in the outer wall 64, the first and second materials are separated from the compartment 88. And a passage (92,93) for flowing into the orifice (90) in the outer wall (64) of the spinner (60). 24. The device of claim 23, wherein the first plate (82) is generally horizontal and abuts against the outer wall (64) of the spinner (60). 24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said second plate (81) is generally horizontal and abuts against said outer wall (64) of said spinner (60).